Trump meets bodega worker acquitted of murder for stabbing ex-con-con-con-con-con-con in self-defense: Crowd chants ‘four more years’ as he arrives in Harlem

Donald Trump left his criminal trial on Tuesday and visited a bodega worker acquitted of murder for stabbing an ex-con in self-defense at his Manhattan store.

The former president went to Hamilton Heights to speak with Jose Alba, who stabbed Austin Simon to death in July 2022 when he jumped on the counter at his store.

Trump received a raucous welcome when he arrived at the bodega, with the crowd chanting “four more years” as the former president joined.

Charges against Alba were dropped in July by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who has become a frequent target of Trump’s attacks on the campaign trail.

Trump received a raucous reception when he arrived at the bodega on Tuesday as a crowd chanted “four more years” for the former president

Alba (right) fled to New York state and planned to move back to his home in the Dominican Republic because he feared for his life after he was accused

Alba was attacked by Simon’s girlfriend during a vicious spat over a bag of chips when she tried to pay $3 but her card was declined.

While Alba and Simon were fighting, the boyfriend who started the row took a knife from his bag and slashed Alba in the arm.

The boyfriend was never charged, but Alba was charged with murder in a case that sparked outrage across the city.

Alba fled to upstate New York and planned to move back to his home in the Dominican Republic, fearing for his life after being charged, and quit his job after receiving an outpouring of hate over the stabbing.

But now he’s back in town.

On July 19, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office asked a judge to drop the charges against Alba after facing intense backlash, including criticism from the city’s mayor.

Trump’s appearance came as Bragg has been a frequent target of his attacks.

Trump stopped by the bodega at the end of the second day of his criminal trial

The boyfriend was never charged, but Alba (above walking into a police precinct) was charged with murder in a case that sparked outrage across the city

Surveillance footage clearly showed Simon moving behind the counter of the Hamilton Heights convenience store and shoving the clerk into a stack of shelves before grabbing him.

It was only then that Alba reached over to a shelf and pulled out a knife to fight back.

During the altercation, Alba was apparently stabbed by Simon’s girlfriend, who instigated the altercation when her benefits card was declined. The boyfriend was never charged in the incident.

The motion to dismiss stated that prosecutors ‘have determined that we cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not justified in his use of deadly physical force.’

The filing said that “a murder charge against Alba could not be proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt” and that the case will not be presented to a grand jury.

Video footage reveals bodega worker Jose Alba tried to avoid confrontation with Austin Simon in the minutes leading up to the July 1 stabbing

Jose Alba shows the injuries he sustained during the brutal attack in his bodega

Alba (arm in the photo) shows photographers her injuries with her friend Francisco Marte

Other videos obtained by DailyMail.com show Simon – who was on parole for assaulting a police officer when he died – marching behind the bar counter to confront Alba.

“Papa, I don’t want a problem, Dad,” Alba told him calmly.

Simon pulled into the Blue Moon convenience store minutes after his girlfriend tried to buy a bag of crisps for her daughter, but her electronic benefits card had been declined.